Somali drought "tragedy continues to unfold"

Somalia's severe drought which is affecting more than six million people is a tragedy that "continues to unfold" according to a senior UN official in the country, briefing the Security Council on Wednesday. Deputy Special Representative Raisedon Zenenga, said that the humanitarian crisis has deteriorated more rapidly than originally projected. He said that "assessments conducted in April indicate critical levels of malnutrition among pastoral and agricultural populations, and also among internally displaced persons in Baidoa and Mogadishu". He added that rain had not arrived in time to avoid a "substantial loss" of livestock and said food security and hunger, were likely to get worse. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric outlines more details from Mr Zenenga’s briefing to the Council

"Return to calm" in Côte d’Ivoire welcomed by UN chief

The "return to calm" in Côte d’Ivoire has been welcomed by the UN Secretary-General. In a statement on Tuesday night, António Guterres commended the government for the restoration of law and order across the country, following a mutiny by elements of the national army, over pay. The UN chief's Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said that "unacceptable acts of violence" had been committed by some soldiers. The UN Mission in the West African country, UNOCI, is preparing to draw down and withdraw at the end of next month. It was established 13 years ago by the Security Council following a peace agreement, signalling the end of a civil war.

Funding needed to save South Sudan from “the brink”

The humanitarian crisis faced by South Sudan's people "is one of the greatest tragedies of our time". That's according to Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, speaking in Geneva on Monday. Along with World Food Programme chief David Beasley, Mr Grandi called for donors to step up support for refugees fleeing South Sudan, as violence grips the nation. Daniel Johnson has more.

Educational investment “key” to breaking out of poverty cycle: UNICEF

Investment in basic education is the key to breaking a cycle of poverty that is preventing one in four children in the Middle East and North Africa from reaching their full potential. That’s according to UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which published a study on Monday showing that 25% continue to be trapped in poverty, fueled in part by conflict and mass displacement. Among the key findings were that almost half of all children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region live in inadequate housing, and are not fully immunized. Jérôme Longué spoke to UNICEF’s Tamara Kummer, in Amman, Jordan.

Presenter: Matthew Wells

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10’00″